Highlighting progress and future plans at the Safer Births Bundle of Care annual stakeholders meeting
Last week, at the recent Safer Births Bundle of Care (SBBC) Annual Stakeholders Meeting, national and international delegates, researchers, government representatives, global partners, and donors gathered at Haydom Lutheran Hospital in Manyara, Tanzania. The event was a platform to share findings from SBBC Phase I, present results from SBBC Phase II, and align strategies for national scale-up in Tanzania and expansion to other countries.
Delegates attended from several countries, including delegates from the Ministry of Health from Nigeria, delegates from Kenya, Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Uganda, local training institutions, professional associations, and global organizations, including the Global Financing Facility, African Federation of Emergency Medicine (AFEM), Gates Foundation, Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), and the World Health Organization.
Proven Impact
Evidence of SBBC’s effectiveness was highlighted, including findings published recently in the New England Journal of Medicine which showed a 40% reduction in newborn deaths and 75% reduction in maternal deaths.
5 Key lessons from SBBC
- Ownership: National and local ownership is essential
- Culture change: Facilitator-led simulation training (SimBegin) is effective in transforming training culture from “blame and shame” to learning
- Data-driven decision-making: LIFT scenario tool empowers facilities with real-time training data for Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI)
- Mentorship: Structured mentorship and supportive supervision are key
- Systems: Reliable systems for equipment maintenance are necessary
To sustain and scale the gains of SBBC, we must continue investing in primary health care. This means integrating SBBC into national health strategies and budgets, making its practices and principles part of our health systems.
Applying the SBBC Approach Beyond Maternal and Newborn Care
The approach of the Safer Births Bundle of Care is increasingly being recognized as relevant beyond the maternal and newborn health sectors, particularly in addressing other time-critical acute emergencies.
The Basic Emergency Care (BEC) program is another area where the SBBC model offers valuable lessons. Key elements of the program, such as low-dose, high-frequency (LDHF) training, structured mentorship, and reflective debriefing through the SimBegin program, contribute to a scalable and sustainable program with the potential to strengthen other healthcare systems – including acute care systems in low-resource settings.
The LDHF methodology, proven effective within SBBC, was noted for its role in preparing healthcare workers to be “adrenaline ready” when responding to critical emergencies. In addition, digital solutions for real-time monitoring of training, support for continuous quality improvement, and timely decision-making in clinical settings were highlighted. How the SBBC model could be integrated into the BEC implementation cascade was also explored.
It is not about the shoes that you wear, but the steps you make that count. In SBBC Phase II, despite new facilities having fewer deliveries, the number of trainings has increased tremendously.
Looking Ahead: Turning Commitment to Tangible Change
The 2025 SBBC Annual Stakeholders Meeting reaffirmed the program’s significant progress in improving maternal and newborn health outcomes in Tanzania. With expanded partnerships and strategies for scale-up, SBBC serves as a model for sustainable, system-wide improvements in maternal and newborn care both within Tanzania and beyond.
Discussions on the next steps emphasized the importance of expanding the reach and ensuring the sustainability of the SBBC model. There were also discussions around “bundling the bundles” implementing SBBC interventions together with other innovative approaches like NEST led by the government. In addition, strong interest and concrete plans were developed related to the expansion of SBBC throughout Nigeria, and other key countries like Kenya and Zambia. Stakeholder perspectives focused on the need to translate commitments into change.
We expect tangible outcomes from this meeting, and I look forward to the declarations that will guide implementation. Commitment made here must translate into real change on the ground.